Looki L1 Wearable AI Device Review
Author: Dennis Garcia
Conclusion
This review turned out a little longer than I had expected however, that isn’t always a bad thing. When reviewing computer hardware there are defined boundaries which cannot be said with software since the ceiling is always getting redefined. When you combine the two you can get some interesting results. First and foremost, as of this review, Looki L1 is a beta ready product best suited for early adopters and AI enthusiasts. This shows in the software and algorithms used to process data and if you are looking for an AI companion agent, this device isn’t quite there yet.
For the Looki L1 to work it requires a number of things including internet access either from your mobile device or a local WiFi. After that you’ll need the mobile app as it will be your digital dashboard and primary way of configuring the Looki and your account. From this app you can set all of the supported features and control when certain events take place along with viewing your captured data and what is being processed.
What isn’t in the app are many of the more advanced features that people, like myself, would find beneficial.
For instance
- Which AI platform is driving the Looki L1
- Where is my data being saved, the website indicates AWS but the particulars are hidden
- How to control the AI Mode behavior
- Finding past alerts, some are easy to find while others are completely hidden
- And a few others
In my digging I discover how to access the web interface and while the website is downright worthless it does expose the API Key feature allowing you to access the stored moments through a REST service. From there you can hook that service using an Agent Skill (samples are provided) and create your own stories from the captured information. However, this does require that you send your data to the Looki AWS private cloud to work.
When I first started learning about the Looki L1 I was excited to see if it could effectively be my mobile AI and I would say it is about 70% there, provided I was comfortable sharing my personal information and stories with a closed AI ecosystem. As I mentioned the AI running the device has not been disclosed and while everything is currently free, with the Looki L1 device purchase, there is no guarantee it will remain that way or how the service model will change when it does.
Personally, I was hoping I could choose my AI ecosystem and even choose where I wanted my data to be stored. This would give me the confidence in how my data is being used and, if I wanted to take everything offline, I could do that. Of course, I am not an average consumer and part of the draw to using the Looki L1 is the ecosystem and once you leave the sandbox, those features will no longer be available.
From a device standpoint, I am very impressed. The system has great battery life and doesn’t take long to charge. I did find the photo quality to be really bad and depending on how the lanyard decides to rest there is a good chance important memories will never get recorded. I do like that the Looki L1 is magnetic allowing you to place the device almost anywhere and while I didn’t get one for evaluation, the desktop stand could be the most valuable accessories.
Overall, I am still really impressed, the Looki L1 is a very compact and lightweight device that can effectively record your daily life with little to no input from you. Your adventures are then captured through a series of journal entries, cartoon graphics and shareable moments making it a very powerful companion for the AI enthusiast or urban adventurer.
Be sure to check out the Hardware Asylum Podcast Episode on the Looki L1
